The Loyola Marymount Lions (5-3) got out in front early over their frequent Big West opponent UC Irvine (5-3) on Tuesday night and when the dust settled at Page Stadium, walked away with a 7-3 victory.
 
The Lions got out in front early on the Anteaters when junior Nick Sogard got an inning opening double off UC Irvine's Alonzo Garcia. Kenny Oyama was then hit by a pitch putting two runners on and both him and Sogard advance bases on a passed ball. Cooper Uhl hit a sacrifice fly to center field bringing in Sogard and putting the Lions in the lead, which they never relinquished.
 
The Lions continued to put pressure on UC Irvine in the bottom of the second when senior Ryan Ruley singled past the third basemen and advanced to second on a throwing error by UCI's Matt Reitano. Ryan Kawano walked putting two Lions on then showing off the speed Dylan Hirsch bunted aboard towards the third basemen loading the bases for LMU. Sogard hit a sacrifice fly to the left field scoring Ruley followed by Oyama hitting a single to left field bringing in Hirsch making the score 3-0 Lions.
 
The Anteaters got on the board in the top of the third when they chased Lions starter Mark Finkelnburg after he gave up a single and a walk. Junior Nick Valdez gave up a double to the Anteaters Brandon Lewis, bringing in Jake Palmer getting UCI on the board.
 
Both teams threatened to put more runs on the scoreboard in the fourth, fifth and sixth but couldn't manage to break loose. The Lions used a good portion of their bullpen as head coach Jason Gill needed seven different arms against the Anteaters. The bullpens outstanding performance throughout the game allowed freshman Alex Burge (1-0) his pickup first win on the season. 
 
The Lions broke the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth when the WCC's Player of the Week Brandon Shearer singled to right field bringing in Hirsch for the first of four runs on the inning. The Lions' Sogard, Shearer and Uhl all scored on a bases clearing double by Trevin Esquerra that put the game out of reach for UCI.
 
The Anteaters managed to put two runs across in the top of the ninth off of Matt Voelker but couldn't do anymore damage and LMU got the third out on a strikeout ending the inning and game.
 
LMU heads to the Pacific Northwest this weekend as they take on the University of Oregon for a three-game set with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1^st.